Share this with

Julien Faubert is one of several players to have failed to live up to a hefty price tag at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images)

West Ham may not have had a representative at the World Cup but this is shaping up to be the most exciting summer in years for Irons fans, as – shock horror – the club have been ambitious in the transfer market.

Five new arrivals, all genuinely exciting prospects? This is not what older fans are used to. Here, instead, is a selection of five of the club’s worst transfer dealings of the last 20 years. Not necessarily the worst players, but those with the biggest gap between expectation and reality. This is what we’re used to.

1) Florin Raducioiu

The pre-decimal Florin was worth 10p, and after the Romanian’s shambolic half season at the Boleyn, many fans would begrudge paying that much for him.

Two World Cup campaigns, a Champions League medal and his Euro 96 performances persuaded Harry Redknapp to pay £2.4m for him, but the signs were there when he came to Redknapp at half-time in a friendly, close to tears, saying Torquay players were kicking him.

Advertisement

Advertisement

After three goals in 12 games, it was a merciful release when he left for Espanyol. In his defence, Raducioiu has since admitted his West Ham stint was ‘a disaster’ and he should have tried harder. Nice – but a bit late.

2) Julien Faubert

Was something put in the water supply in summer 2007? It produced three of the most wince-makingly over-priced signings in club history, number one being Faubert – or Faux Pas, as he was also known.

How’s this for a comment on your career? Put his name in Google and the first entry that comes up is ‘Julien Faubert Asleep’, when he dozed off on the bench during his loan spell at Real Madrid. Yes, that’s right. Real. Madrid.

Just 16 days after joining West Ham for (ouch) £6.1m, he picked up an injury which restricted him to seven league appearances in his first season. His second was divided between London and Madrid, and although he had a couple of solid seasons before leaving for Turkey in 2012, he never came close to matching his price tag. Madrid? Still a mystery.

3) Freddie Ljungberg

The second of 2007’s trinity of transfer madness. Although a legend at Arsenal, at West Ham Ljungberg remains a cautionary tale, with just two goals in 25 appearances, and his four year contract paid up after one season. At a reputed cost of – gulp – £6m.

4) Kieron Dyer

The third and final mistake. In his prime, the midfielder was one of England’s hottest prospects, but even before he arrived at West Ham he had a reputation as injury-cursed. A double break of his right leg less than two weeks after joining for £6m took that to a whole new level, and when he was released after 22 appearances – none completed – in four years, each one had cost around £450,000.

Advertisement

Advertisement

5) Savio

The most mystifying of all. Who approved paying £10m for a 19-year-old with 22 Italian league appearances? One West Ham start. 10 substitute appearances. No goals. £10m. Last heard of playing in Kazakhstan. What more can you say?